Gilman discovers right blend to beat Spalding
Snavely bags 2 1st-half goals as Greyhounds top Cavaliers
Gilman’s boys soccer team always has trouble on Archbishop Spalding’s Whittles Field, Greyhounds coach Jonathan Seal said.
OnWednesday afternoon, that wasn’t the case for the area’s No. 6-ranked team.
The Greyhounds capitalized on Spalding turnovers in the first half to strike, dispatching the hosts, 3-1, and kept their multiyear winning streak against the Cavaliers alive.
“When you have a good blend of youth and experience, guys that have been down here digging out wins in the past, they understand what it takes to win down here,” Seal said. “I think that’s important.”
Senior forward Ben Snavely proved why he earned a starting position after netting both first-half goals for Gilman (4-1-1).
“He does the little things for us. He’s in the right spot at the right time. Today, he had two goals in the first half,” Seal said. “Almost could have had a third. But the balls he was being played, that’s a tribute to his teammates setting him up.”
The Cavaliers (2-2) kick-started their comeback bid in the second half, primarily thanks to a goal by sophomore forward Finn Beaubien, who laced in a shot behind Gilman keeper Grant Farley.
But Spalding’s energy took too long to lift off.
“The problem is we didn’t protect the ball,” Spalding coach Patrick Crawford said. “The backs are trying to play, they’re giving you space to play, and we’re not being patient. We’re trying to force things. We turned the ball over way too much and we weren’t completing passes. Makes it difficult.”
Greyhounds senior Costi Karakousis dished to forward Jack Stuzin, who carved out space in the box. He found Snavely, who curled a shot behind Spalding keeper Daniel Ashbeck.
As Spalding looked to reply, Gilman continued to pepper shots on its hosts. Karakousis wheeled toward the cage, crossing to Snavely, who, of course, hit the strings.
“We just took advantage of the backside cuts,” Snavely said. “The back mids were open the whole time. My teammates did a good job of finding me open.”
Spalding earned a corner with a little over 27 minutes to go and took advantage. Before Gilman could locate the ball, it was already whizzing off Beaubien’s foot into the net.
With its lead down to one well-placed kick, Seal dropped one Greyhound back to shore up its defenses.
“The goal put them right back into the game. When you have a two-goal lead, they always say that’s the most precarious lead in sports,” Seal said. “(Spalding) had a little momentum, but we settled down again, started executing our system. I was happy to get the third in the end of the game.”
The visitors needed a little insurance. Ill-timed wind carried Snavely’s attempt for a hat trick just over the top bar, so someone else stepped up. With just under a minute to go, Stuzin drew Ashbeck out of the goal as he settled and then fired upon the open net.
The outcome of the game only further confused the hierarchy of the MIAA A conference. Gilman defeated Spalding, though Spalding defeated McDonogh, which defeated Gilman. Such parity means one thing to those navigating it.
“It just shows that it can be anyone’s game. Anyone can beat anyone,” Snavely said. “It’s just down to who comes out and is ready to play, and I think that was us today.”
No. 2 Archbishop Curley 2, Boys’ Latin 0: Jalen Anderson scored two second-half goals to lift the visiting Friars (4-1-1, 3-0 MIAA A Conference Black Division) over the Lakers (1-4, 0-3). Justin Karas and Dylan Sloan added assists. Chris Denholm made saves in the shutout for Curley.
No. 7 Loyola Blakefield 4, Gonzaga (D.C.) The host Dons (3-2-1) went on a 3-0 run in the second half to pull away from the Eagles (2-3-2). Dominic Caltabiano had a goal and an assist for Loyola, which hosts Boys’ Latin Friday at 4:15 p.m.
No. 8 Calvert Hall 3, John Carroll 2: Sean Barwick had a goal and an assist to lead the visiting Cardinals (2-1-1, 2-1-1 MIAA A Conference Black Division) past the host Patriots (2-3, 1-2).
Park 2, St. Mary’s 0: The host Bruins (4-2, 3-2 MIAA B Conference) beat the Saints (2-4, 1-4 MIAA B Conference). St. Mary’s suffered its fourth straight loss.
Girls soccer
C. Milton Wright 3, Marriotts Ridge 2: Morgan Kovacic scored the game-winner on a corner kick by Sarah Barnes to left the Mustangs (3-1) over the host Mustangs (1-1). Marriotts Ridge took a 2-0 lead in the first half.
Field hockey
Katie Fichtner had a goal and an assist and the host Cavaliers (3-1-1, 1-1 Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference) shut out the Blazers (3-2, 2-1).
Severn 2, Roland Park 1: Regan King and Anna D’Amore scored to lead the Admirals (3-1, 1-1 IAAM B Conference) past the host Reds (2-3, 0-1). Severn led1-0 in the first half.
South Carroll 1, Manchester Valley 0: Kiersten Straley scored the game-winner assisted by Rachel Linn as the host Cavaliers (3-3) beat the Mavericks (2-2).
Girls volleyball
Dulaney 3, Western Tech 1: In a match filled with comebacks, host Lions (3-1) rallied from down two sets to one to defeat the Wolverines (3-1), 25-19, 23-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-9 .
Dulaney junior Amber Medina was clutch in the final set with five kills and she served the final point.
Western Tech’s top all-around player, Avaion Barry, missed some of the third set, most of the fourth set and all of the fifth with leg cramps.
“We knew she was the best player on their team and we knew that we just had to push harder,” Medina said.